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(No Model.) I

. G. M. STRAIN 8v D.-MILLER.

Washmg Machlne Patent ed Feb .'22, 1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. STRAIN AND DAVID MILLER, OF HARRODSBURG, INDIANA,

ASSIGNORS TO SAID GEORGE M. STRAIN AND ALEX. STRAIN, OF

SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 238,179, dated February22, 1881.

Application filed August 20, 1880.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEO. M. STRAIN and DAVID MILLER, of Harrodsburg, inthe State of Indiana, hcve invented certain new and useful Improvementsin WVashing-Machines and we do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in washing-machines; andit has for its object to produce an apparatus in which therubbing-surface will be practically indestructible, and to provide arubber that will automatically adjust itself to the rubbing-surface asthe thickness or quantity of clothes to be operated upon may be varied.These objects we attain by the apparatus illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical sectionof our invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rubber.

The letter A indicates the bottom of our improved machine, the innerface of which forms the rubbing-surface against which the clothes orother articles are worked. The said bottom is constructed of earthenwareproperly burned, and is in the form, or approximates the form, of asegment of a circle, the inner or rubbing surface being corrugated or,roughened in order to form a proper bearing for the articles to beoperated upon.

The letter B indicates the sides of the machine, which are semicircularin shape, and which are provided with segmental grooves G, into whichthe opposite edges of the segmental chamber sit, the sides being clampedtogether by means of the transverse rods or stays D, which arescrew'threaded at their ends and provided with clamping-nuts. Thegrooves O extend some distance beyond the ends of the segmental bottom Afor the reception of the wash-boards F, which areto be employedforhand-washing when such is found necessary or desirable. These boards areconstructed ofstone or earthenware, with corrugated or roughenedrubbing-surfaces, and are backed or .re-enforced with Wood or other suitable material of sufficient strength to form a firm support for the saidboard.

The letter G indicates the rubber of my im- (No model.)

proved apparatus. This is constructed of a series of segmental sections,H, corrugated or roughened on their rubbing-faces and attached to theheads 1. These heads are pivoted to a lever, K, at or near their innerlower end, as shown at d, and are beveled or somewhat rounded on theircontiguous faces upward from their pivot-points. This lever is providedwith a transverse fulcrum-shaft, L, the ends or journals of which areadapted to set in grooved bearings M in the sides of the machinein suchmanner that the entire rubber may be secured in place, or readilyremoved, for the purposes of cleaning or repairs, when required. Betweenthe res'pectix e heads I, at each side of the lever, are located spiralor other equivalent springs e e,which are adapted to yield or give whenpressure is brought upon the rubbingsections during the operation ofwashing, in order to permit the rubber to adjust or accommodate itselfto the clothes or material to be operated upon, and give a properpressure upon the same irrespective of the thickness, bulk, or quantitythereof. The upper end of the lever is provided with a handle, N, bywhich it may be manipulated.

The machine is provided with legs P,which are secured in any convenientmanner to the opposite sides, as indicated in the drawings.

The operation of my improved apparatus will be apparent from the abovedescription without further explanation.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- The combination, with the concavecorrugated rubbing-surface of a washing machine, of the lever K and theheads I I, said heads being beveled or rounded on their contiguous facesand pivoted at their lower inner ends to lever K, and having a spiralspring interposed between them at their upper ends, all constructed andarrangedto operate substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we affix oursignatures in presence of two witnesses.

' GEORGE M. STRAIN. DAVID MILLER. Witnesses J. E. EVANS, EDWARD B.MILLER.

